Yes. It is an optional feature you can turn on under System Preferences->Accessibility

TEG

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there is no system preferences>accessibility options

ive tried pressing fn and f2 (im on macbook)

i press these 2 keys and nothing happens.

and i also dont think some of you guys are understanding what i am asking.

for example....say if i was using a windows xp keyboard now....i would press alt and on the top menu bar, not the internet browser bar, the windows top bar menu, specific letters on each menu option would be underlined, usually the first letter of word, and so if i press alt and e, the edit menu would open up and i can navigate to any option in the pop out menu and select.....all without using the mouse..........just by using shortcuts and arrow keys and enter......

If you're on a laptop you'll need to press fn+ctrl+f2, since otherwise the f2 button is by default mapped to display brightness. You can of course change this in System Preferences by choosing 'use all f1, f2, etc. as standard function keys'. If you choose this then you'll need to hit fn + function key to access the special functions (brightness, volume, etc.)

if youre on a MacBook the F keys are designated to Hardware settings. press fn+control+F2 to move focus to the menu bar. to change the F keys to software features tick "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys" in Keyboard preferences.

to change the shortcut go to Keyboard Shortcuts preferences and double click on "^F2" as shown in the image below and change it to somthing you prefer… maybe the "option+Z"? (has to be a key combo).

EDIT: sorry gauchogolfer i pretty much typed the same thing but it took time to upload the image.

If you're on a laptop you'll need to press fn+ctrl+f2, since otherwise the f2 button is by default mapped to display brightness. You can of course change this in System Preferences by choosing 'use all f1, f2, etc. as standard function keys'. If you choose this then you'll need to hit fn + function key to access the special functions (brightness, volume, etc.)

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this answers your question completely.
you can change the function at any time, and find what best suits you.
and since you chose the uk keyboard your options may be different.
i dont think so though

If you're on a laptop you'll need to press fn+ctrl+f2, since otherwise the f2 button is by default mapped to display brightness. You can of course change this in System Preferences by choosing 'use all f1, f2, etc. as standard function keys'. If you choose this then you'll need to hit fn + function key to access the special functions (brightness, volume, etc.)

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yes thats what i mean....thankyou thankyou......but......
ok say if i press fn ctrl f2.......the apple sign menur gets highlighted.....
cant i highlight say the file menu? ok.....so say i highlight the apple sign menu......then cant i just jump to the 'go' menu? instead of going through the menus one by one.......oh i got it.....then you just press fn and the first letter of the menu item..............

its ok.....but one too many button being pressed, and overly stretching of fingers for hitting f2.........and you have to go to the apple sign menu??? and then to another menu......can you just go to the menu you want without going to the apple sign menu first?

yeh its a bit of a round-about way. i would say most users dont use this. just use keyboard shortcuts… WAY EASIER! and Mac OS X's keyboard shortcuts are WAY EASIER to learn and remember than Windows's shortcuts.

here is a guide for the special key symbols. your UK keyboard might already have some of these symbols on the keyboard but the US one doesnt.

if youre on a MacBook the F keys are designated to Hardware settings. press fn+control+F2 to move focus to the menu bar. to change the F keys to software features tick "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys" in Keyboard preferences.

to change the shortcut go to Keyboard Shortcuts preferences and double click on "^F2" as shown in the image below and change it to somthing you prefer maybe the "option+Z"? (has to be a key combo).

EDIT: sorry gauchogolfer i pretty much typed the same thing but it took time to upload the image.

yeh its a bit of a round-about way. i would say most users dont use this. just use keyboard shortcuts WAY EASIER! and Mac OS X's keyboard shortcuts are WAY EASIER to learn and remember than Windows's shortcuts.

here is a guide for the special key symbols. your UK keyboard might already have some of these symbols on the keyboard but the US one doesnt.

Click to expand...

most users dont use this....cause using the mouse is second nature and easier.....but alot of things dont have dedicated shortcuts.....and alot of applications we use.....we have to go to the menus and find the right option......this technique is a god send......

yeh its a bit of a round-about way. i would say most users dont use this. just use keyboard shortcuts WAY EASIER! and Mac OS X's keyboard shortcuts are WAY EASIER to learn and remember than Windows's shortcuts.

here is a guide for the special key symbols. your UK keyboard might already have some of these symbols on the keyboard but the US one doesnt.

TRUE! but i meant skip highlighting and opening the menu in the first place and just use the keyboard shortcut next to the menu option.

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oh yeah i get ya.....yeah i do that to.....but some of the apps today!!! soooo many options.......sometimes you need to just browse and go through them....only when you are gonna be using a certain option regularly, is there a need to learn the proper short cut for it.

bob2131: I know exactly what you mean. I've been wondering menu shortcuts have not been implemented in OS X. In XP, I can access the Help menu if one key combination. In OS X, I have to access the Apple menu first, then use the arrow key to navigate to the Help menu. When it comes to shortcut keys, I personally think Windows does a better job.

The problem is, when you switch, you can't keep expecting OS X to do everything the same as Windows. As you explore, you'll find there are lots of things XP does better, and lots of things OS X does better. I personally hate navigating like that, so it's useless to me, but for someone else, like you, it's something you'll miss dearly. Everyone chooses their OS and computers based on what makes them the most efficient. This is the way it is, I'm afraid.

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